Blasphemy: A Novel (Wyman Ford Series, 2)

Blasphemy is as much a commentary on religion, science and fanaticism as it is a fictional novel. I finished the book at a record pace and was immensely enthralled from beginning to end. I would place this novel in my Top Five favorite works of all time as it still has me reflecting on its message and implications relating to science and religion in our world today. In a nutshell, a group of elite, well rounded scientists from various backgrounds and expertise build an enormous supercollider named Isabella. Located in Northeast Arizona, Isabella is able to replicate the point of singularity of the "Big Bang Theory" giving further insight to the origins of the universe. The ideas are well researched and based on sound applications including quantum physics, particle theory, astronomy, etc Working against the scientists are various religious based factions claiming the project was seeking to play and replace God. Clearly, this novel may be upsetting to Christians or anyone else of faith due to the atheistic overtones presented from the scientists as well as the results of the experiment with Isabella. I believe this is exactly what Preston intended to do since science and Christianity are often in conflict. Presented within Blasphemy is the notion Christianity has its origins from long dead primitive man whose core beliefs were predicated on primitive ideas such as propagation (old testament) and survival against a domineering culture oppressive of religious ideology (new testament). Blasphemy is a must read for free thinkers, philosophers and any one else independent from the shackles of religion. If you are one such person who has been blinded by the biggest sham ever in the history of humanity which we call organized religion, then this book is not for you. Admittedly, I have been unsuccessful in writing an impartial review, but given the highly controversial subject matter, can anyone?

Plenty of others have written what the story is about. So I will be short, and hopefully, sweet. Read the book in a day, which is sad since it's not there to look forward to. But, will read it again and again, as I do all the Preston-Child books. These are the ones I reach for when there's nothing new in hand. So, okay, obviously it is a page-turner, devoid of any unncessary filler, with characters we get to know and either emphasize with or intensely dislike. But the best part of the book by far is the conversations with "God". And I have to thank Doug, immensely, for putting these in a separate section at the back of the book. I thank him because without knowing about this extra added surprise, I was taking notes. That's how good this is. Thanks, Doug, and please continue, regardless of all the flak. Opening minds to new ideas is perhaps the most difficult but most important job in the world.

I have read almost all of Douglas Preston's books (including those with Lincoln Child) and this is probably my favorites. The story is very well thought out and the characters are expertly developed. Even the science is done well, striking a good balance between the actual scientific details and readability, which is always a difficult task. One of the reasons I enjoy Preston's (and Child's) books so much is that they develop detailed settings which are richly described so that I can clearly visualize them. Blasphemy is no different; the description of the machine and the huge underground complex clearly shows the research that Preston did in seeing a similar complex himself. (This is confirmed in an interview with the editor of Scientific American.) Some readers find this level of detail tedious, but if you expect it after previous novels, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The most important part of the book for me, though, is the conflict between science and religion...and more importantly, the question of whether science is a religion. The monologue presented in support of this argument is something I personally agree with wholeheartedly and I am thrilled to see these ideas expressed clearly in a work of popular fiction. It bolsters my "faith" in humanity to have this discussion out in the open and generating discussion. Overall, I heartily recommend this book and I'll likely read it again.

Bottom line, I loved it. I didn't see the obvious holes, but could understand why the author is getting bashed. It's a science verses Christianity thing. I've noticed such books get stoned, so I tend to not listen to the negative reviews. For me, it's an awesome audio book. But first, let me go over the key points. Believable Story - I'm gonna say yes. I also loved the author's writing style and the dialog was so on target. Define Characters - VERY WELL DONE! If I could give extra points here, I would. Good Ending - Yes, I never knew how it would end and there was no dramatic climax. What the author did was have me reflect upon my own beliefs and wonder if we'll be faced with the same situation one day. Interesting Plot - I'd say interesting and original. Of course, I am not well read, so there might be other books like this out there. No Dry Spots - Maybe if I'd read the book, the answer would be different. The audio version kept me quietly listening to what was going to happen next. If I missed a part, I'd rewind to listen again.

I love Preston's work wether solo or with Childs (I think he dose most the writing in the Pendergast series anyway). I am always assured of a rip roaring read along with something to think about. In Blasphemy some of the characters from Tyrannosaur Canyon and The Codex are back, but you don't have to read the earlier books to enjoy this one. This time out Preston takes on the issue of religion versus science. If you are a Christian fundamentalist I warn you, you might not care for this book, but that does not mean it is anti religion (won't say more as I don't like spoilers!). With this book the author has managed to mix thriller with science fiction into high octane brew that delivers the goods! If I have one criticism its that his characters are kind of flat, as if sent over from central casting. However, I am not really looking for in depth character studies when I read a book like this.